With the embattled All India Tennis Association (AITA) resolving the on-going tennis tangle involving Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna by sending two men's doubles teams for the London Olympics, we take a look at the perplexing partnership problems over the years in Indian sports. Leander Paes & Mahesh Bhupathi (tennis):
The redoubtable and the most successful of India’s men’s doubles pairs, the duo bagged three Grand Slam titles while playing together in 1999 & 2001. Besides, they went on to win 24 consecutive men’s doubles matches in the Davis Cup while playing for India – easily the world record which is unlikely to be equaled leave alone surpassed.
They made four appearances in Olympics. However on the low side, the celebrated pair separated themselves on as many as four occasions during the last dozen years. There are also uncomfortable reports that they do not see eye to eye as of late.
Text: Anant Gaundalkar
Images: AP
